Keychron V5 vs V6 HEWired vs Wireless Hall Effect
Choose the Keychron V5 for deep modding potential and a compact numpad layout, or the V6 HE for wireless Hall Effect switches and rapid trigger gaming.
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4.8 (8)4.8 · 8 reviews
from$74at MK
No reviews
from$169at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron V5
Wired
Build quality in the top 5% of 96% boards under $100.
- 96% layout saves desk space while keeping a full numpad and function row.
- South-facing RGB LED prevents keycap interference and reduces glare.
- Hot-swap PCB supports both 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches for wide compatibility.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Get the
Keychron V6 HE
Wireless Hall Effect
Build quality in the top 15% of 100% boards under $200.
- Hall Effect switches with adjustable actuation points (0.10-3.35 mm) for precise control.
- Wireless connectivity via 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth 5.2 for flexible use.
- 4000 mAh battery provides up to 100 hours of use (backlight off).
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
If your priority is wireless gaming performance with adjustable Hall Effect switches and rapid trigger, the Keychron V6 HE is the better choice. If you prefer a compact layout that still includes a numpad and you want maximum freedom to mod switches, stabilizers, and keycaps, the Keychron V5 offers better value and flexibility. Both keyboards are fully programmable with QMK and VIA, so your decision should balance form factor, connectivity, and input technology needs.
The differences that matter
Skip the 40-row spec sheet. These are the specs that change how each board feels, sounds, and fits your desk.
Keychron V5
Keychron V6 HE
Layout size
96%
100%
Hall effect (magnetic)
No
Yes
Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing
Rapid trigger
No
Yes
Faster resets help in games and not in normal typing
Connection
Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Max polling rate
8,000 Hz
1,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
- Keychron V5
- Keychron V6 HE
- Performance
- 9193
- Build quality
- 8976
- Productivity
- 9890
- Customizability
- 9887
- Portability
- 4557
- Hot-swappable
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- QMK
- VIA
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron V6 HE clearly wins for gaming with its Hall Effect technology and wireless performance. The Keychron V5 shines in modding, thanks to its customizable tray mount design and availability of barebone kits. For office work, the V5's compact layout and stable stabilizers are a better fit. Programming and content creation are ties because both boards offer full programmability, though the V5's smaller footprint and V6 HE's wireless design present a trade-off. Travel benefits from the V6 HE's Bluetooth connectivity and long battery life.
Pick the Keychron V6 HE
- Hall Effect switches with adjustable actuation points (0.10-3.35 mm) for customizable response.
- Rapid trigger and dynamic keystrokes for competitive gaming.
- 2.4 GHz wireless with 1000 Hz polling rate, same as wired latency.
Keychron V5 vs V6 HE specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
17 of 29 specs differ
Keychron V5
Keychron V6 HE
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Rapid trigger
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
QMK
VIA
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron V5
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-ES
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
Out of stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron V6 HE
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
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Keychron V5 vs V6 HE: your questions
Yes, the Keychron V5 features a hot-swappable PCB that supports both 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches. This allows you to install or change switches without any soldering, making it easy to customize your typing feel.
Yes, the V6 HE supports a 2.4 GHz wireless connection with a 1000 Hz polling rate, which is the same as its wired mode. It also offers Bluetooth 5.2 for connecting to multiple devices, though Bluetooth polling is 125 Hz.
The V6 HE uses Keychron Ultra-fast Lime magnetic switches, which are Hall Effect switches. They use magnets to detect key presses instead of physical contacts, allowing for adjustable actuation points (0.10-3.35 mm) and rapid trigger for faster response.
Yes, both the Keychron V5 and V6 HE support QMK and VIA firmware. You can remap keys, create macros, and adjust settings using the Keychron Launcher web app on Chrome, Edge, or Opera browsers.
Yes, both keyboards include a system toggle switch on the keyboard and come with an additional set of keycaps for macOS and Windows. You can save two different layouts, one for each system.
Yes, the V5 uses a standard MX stem and features south-facing RGB LEDs, which reduce interference with OEM or Cherry-profile keycaps. It comes with OSA profile double-shot PBT keycaps that can be replaced easily.
The V6 HE has a 4000 mAh rechargeable battery. According to the vendor, it can last up to 100 hours of use with the backlight turned off. Actual battery life will vary depending on usage and brightness settings.
Both can offer quiet operation, but the Keychron V6 HE has a gasket mount design with PC plate and acoustic foams, which reduces resonance and produces a softer sound. The Keychron V5 has a stiffer tray mount steel plate, which may transmit more noise.
Yes, the Keychron V5 is available as a barebone kit which does not include switches or keycaps. This allows you to fully customize the build with your preferred switches, keycaps, and stabilizers.
The Keychron V5 measures 389 mm x 142 mm with a weight of 1170 g. The Keychron V6 HE is larger at 450 mm x 139 mm and weighs 1100 g. The V5's 96% layout is more compact while still retaining a full numpad.
Yes, the Keychron V5 supports N-key rollover. The Keychron V6 HE also supports N-key rollover in both wireless and wired modes, ensuring every keypress is registered accurately even during rapid typing or gaming.
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